And if you, like me, have spent the last several days without power thanks to the monster that was Hurricane Irma, you know these heroes dangling from power poles are the only ones separating you from the sweet, sweet embrace of a hot shower followed by a Netflix binge.

Oh, and the air conditioning. Glorious A/C, how I miss thee.

“I’d encourage someone (to get into this field) because we need linemen,” said Joe Kohler, owner of Kohler Construction Inc., which his father founded in Pinellas Park, Florida, in 1962.

Lineman Jobs Are in Demand and Pay Really Well

David Long, a lineman from Ameren Missouri, takes a break in the shade while helping restore power to a neighborhood after Hurricane Irma. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

And after Irma rolled through Florida, more than seven million people lost power. That means plenty of work for utility contractors and line workers.

“I’ll probably make 30 grand this month,” lineman Nick Chilelli said in an interview with Reuters. “Everybody out here is killing it. Of course, you’re dealing with something that could kill you any minute.”

But Kohler, who obviously has this kind of work in his blood, said it’s also rewarding to be part of something so integral to our lives. He helped build transmission lines between Florida City and Key West.

“I can tell you, as a kid when we were road tripping to the Keys, my dad’s eyes lit up each time we got to his power line,” his daughter, TPH writer Carson Kohler, said. “He loves it.”

Here’s Where to Start if You’re Sold on Lineman Jobs

From left, Mark Boyer and Brian Tyndall move a wooden utility pole as they get a power line back up after Hurricane Irma. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

An apprenticeship should get you on the right path, and some utility companies have trade school programs so you can go to school on the weekends, Kohler said. You’ll mostly learn about safety, and, if it’s a reputable power company, you won’t have to travel like a lot of contractors.

It usually takes four or five years to become a lineman, Kohler said. You start as a “grunt” or groundman, and eventually have the opportunity to work as a lineman. You could even end up a foreman or supervisor if you stay in the career long term.

Kohler himself started at the bottom and worked his way up to own Kohler Construction.

As with a lot of construction jobs, you need to be ready for a hard day’s work.

“They’ve got to be willing to work and willing to tolerate the heat, especially here in Florida, and be outdoors and working hard all day long,” Kohler said. “Are there still people willing to do that? I don’t know.”

Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist at The Penny Hoarder. He really, really hopes his power comes back on soon.